Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112912

Alisher Latypov, DrPh, PIU, Network on Prevention of Violence Against Women in Tajikistan, MOH Headquarters, 30 Ibn Sino St., Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 992 372 251930, alisher_latypov@hotmail.com and Irene Jillson, PhD, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Georgetown University, 3700 Reservoir Road, St. Mary's Hall - Room 122, Washington, DC 20057.

The study objective was to ascertain the factors related to female suicide in Tajikistan, including sociocultural factors and those related to access to mental health and other related services. The methods included 1) conducting qualitative interviews with 35 women in two urban and suburban areas, as well as with 25 health care providers in both specialty burn centers and general primary health clinics; 2) reviewing relevant policy and other documents from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and 3) comparing the findings with comparable data from neighboring countries. The findings suggest that 1) there have been significant increases in reported suicides among women during this period; 2) most of women are young; 3) self-immolation was most the most common form of suicide attempts or completion in rural areas; 4) the most common explanations were family problems (domestic violence, relationship with other family members), poverty, unemployment, and undiagnosed mental health conditions; and 5) because suicide is specifically proscribed by Islamic law, this is a factor in “masking” suicide as accidental to reduce the potential for social stigma. No suicide prevention programs exist in rural areas, and few in urban areas. The researchers examined the few programs that exist to prevent suicide and address mental illness and its correlates. They will present recommended approaches that Tajikistan—and other low-income countries – can use to prevent suicide as well as to evaluate prevention programs to identify evidence-based practices that are culturally appropriate and affordable within severe resource constraints.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of the presentation, the participants will be able to identify factors that contribute to suicide among women in Tajikistan specfically and in Central Asia generally.
• By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to discuss approaches that low-income countries can use to prevent suicide.
• By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to describe approaches that low-income countries can use to evaluate suicide prevention methods to elicit evidence-based practices.

Keywords: International Health, Mental Illness

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.